Unless they have civilian powers.

That makes no sense at all unless they're both fighting with the Gokai power load out.
Additionally, Joel's a stunt pilot. That gives me enough confidence in his skills alone.

I assumed, if we're voting on an imaginary battle in our head, they have the powers from the series they are representing to win the Gokai powers.

Yeah, that's how I've been playing it too.

Same here. I've been playing out 'mortal kombat' esque scenarios to decide who to vote for. Thinking about it now though, voting based on sheer power load out doesn't really make sense as those power will be kaput and replaced with the 'gokai' powers. We really should have just been voting on base form power alone (along with skill and personality) because that's all they'll have as a 'Super Megaforce' Ranger.

Sadly though that never seems to help, if we're voting on base powers the SPD, Mystic Force and Ninja Storm teams should basically clean house. Because SPD and Ninja Storm both have the training and civilian powers and Mystic Force had magic.

*raises hand* I just think Ziggy is awesome.

You can't be impartial when it comes to this, plain and simple. There is no scientific method to determine which character is best because, much like I stated in the blue round for TJ, it's more than just your powers, but how you used what you had, regardless of how seemingly weak they are.
Adding in character intelligence and creativity, and non-strength based attributes such as personality, morality, and mentality, and it's just variable after variable after variable that leads to inconsistencies if you try to keep your judgment the same across the board, because feats and actions can outweigh a simpler power load out.

Plus it's really a question of how far you go as well, since there are no concrete rules in place. Like...should I also be thinking of the team as a whole unit? Could A beat B but then not work with C on the team? So although B loses in say powers or has the weaker personality, should I vote for them because they are a better fit for the team?

I've been imagining this whole tournament as a great contest devised by some omnipotent being that's able to pull the competing rangers through time and space, right from when they were in their prime (righr around the end of their seasons).

It's the only way I can justify a (presently) 40 year old being able to beat a trained 20 year old, in their prime, in a fight. I don't care how much power load out they have, being old is a handicap.